Westport Plays For Little League Title Saturday Night

BRISTOL — Even off the field, it is all about baseball for the Westport Little League team.

Outfielder Charlie Roof, the reigning Westport Xbox champion, uses his down time to beat up on his teammates with the New York Mets in MLB 2K13.

Charlie and Westport have been on a run that, unlike the Mets, has been without late-season collapses.

Westport has been a steady force, plowing its way through to the New England Regional final. Saturday at 7 p.m. at the A. Bartlett Giamatti Little League Center, Westport will take on Lincoln (Rhode Island) for a chance to advance to the Little League World Series. And if the 12- and 13-year-olds are feeling the pressure, it has been hidden under their calm, cool and collected faces by the flicking of joysticks.

"I think they'll be loose, they've been loose all year, they don't let it get to them," said Westport manager Tim Rogers after predicting the video game tournaments would begin less than an hour after his team's semifinal win on Thursday. "I actually wish they'd be a little more intense if I could have a request."

A win Saturday will make Westport the fourth Connecticut team in the last six years to represent New England in the World Series (Fairfield 2012, 2010; Shelton 2008.) This summer marked Westport's first trip to the regional, a ride that has one more stop against Rhode Island before a potential voyage to the big stage. Lincoln is making its eighth appearance in the regional, having punched its ticket to Williamsport twice (2004 and 2001).

"It has been remarkable, we've had a great turnout [at the regional]," Rogers said. "The emails and the calls just keep coming. It is really exciting, I'm sure Rhode Island is having the same type of experience. I'm sure they are as anxious about it as we are."

Both sides come into the final with staggering run differentials. Westport, which was 12-0 leading up the regional, outscored its opponents 98-17 in district, state and sectional tournaments. Rhode Island was equally impressive on the road to the Bristol regional, posting a 9-0 record scoring 102 runs to their opponents' 12.

"It is going to be a great game, they are incredibly good," said Rogers. "We've watched parts of all their games and they can really, really hit, and they've got deep pitching, so we are going to have our hands full."

Rogers hopes his pitching staff can silence Rhode Island's big bats. The three-man rotation of Harry Azadian, Chad Knight and Max Popken has been dominant, allowing 1.4 runs a game in states and only eight runs in five regional games, including a no-hitter against Maine last Sunday. Rhode Island has averaged eight runs per game in regional play, but does have one loss, an 8-1 defeat to Vermont.

"[A trip to the World Series] hasn't been mentioned verbally, but some of us have thought of it," said Popken. "Going into this tournament I think we started to [think about it]. Before this, I don't think so."

Azadian threw 68 pitches Thursday, making him ineligible by Little League rules to pitch in the championship game. However, Knight and Popken are available and ready for one more game to keep the run going.

"It feels great. We are representing all of Westport and Connecticut going into the regional finals," Popken said. "If we win this, it is going to be awesome."